2003 Toyota 4Runner Engine

ROTTEN EGG/SULFUR SMELL/EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN OF VEHICLE EVEN IF WINDOWS ARE UP.HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN AUG,2003. *AK

I HAVE BECOME RATHER FED UP WITH THE SULFUR SMELL PROBLEM ON MY 03' V8 4RUNNER. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE, EDMUNDS, AND OTHER WEBSITES ON THIS TOPIC AND SEE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF SOME PEOPLE PURSUING LEGAL RECOURSE. OTHER THAN ONE SPECIFIC CASE IN FLORIDA, I CANNOT FIND ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A LEMON LAW CASE WITH THE SULFUR SMELL PROBLEM. I AM IN KANSAS AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA THAT I HAVE TO GO TO ARBITRATION.....AND IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, THIS IS ALSO REQUIRED PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING A LEMON LAWSUIT. I HAVE THREE KIDS, ONE OF WHICH HAS A SULFUR ALLERGY IN ADDITION TO MY WIFE HAVING A DOCUMENTED ALLERGY. FRANKLY, I HAVE BEEN NAUSEATED BY THIS SMELL ON A NUMBER OF INSTANCES. NOW AT 10 MOS. OF OWNERSHIP, 7500 MILES, TRYING EVERY GRADE AND BRAND OF GAS REASONABLY AVAILABLE, 2 DEALER COMPLAINTS, AND 2 TOYOTA CORPORATE COMPLAINTS....I AM NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA'S SHIFTING OF BLAME....BUT NOW I AM AT A LOSS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HAVE TOYOTA RECOGNIZE AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE CURRENT 4RUNNER MODEL. TOYOTA BLAMES THE PROBLEM ON BAD GAS....DON'T THINK SO...I HAVE TRIED EVERY GRADE FROM EVERY STATION NEAR MY HOUSE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY 1 OF OWNERSHIP. HAVE I RESEARCHED THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENS....ABSOLUTELY. WHEN TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.....I GUESS I WONDER WHY THEY DESIGNED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REAR VENTS THAT PULL EXHAUST GAS INTO THE CABIN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY IT HAPPENS. HERE IS MY POINT....SULFUR SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST...OK, I'M GOOD WITH THAT. THIS IS THE CASE WITH THE HIGHER SULFUR CONTENT MIXES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. BUT SHOULD IT BE REASONABLE THAT I HAVE TO INHALE IT INSIDE THE CABIN? NOW HOW IS THAT THE FAULT OF THE GASOLINE INDUSTRY.....DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SULFUR CONTENT OF THE LOCALLY AVAILABLE GASOLINE? FURTHERMORE, IF I AM SMELLING SULFUR.....I AM ALSO INHALING CARBON MONOXIDE....GEE, THAT SEEMS REAL HEALTHY. PLEASE HELP.

IN DECEMBER OF 2002, WE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE NOTICED A STRONG SULPHUR SMELL LEAKING INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WE TOOK IT TO BACK TO PEFORMANCE TOYOTA WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FINE, HANDED US A COPY OF A SERVICE BULLETIN #EG003-03 AND SUGGESTED WE CHANGE GAS. WE TRIED EVERY GAS AT EVERY GAS STATION WE COULD FIND AND IT ONLY GOT WORSE. MY WIFE HAD BEEN USING THE VEHICLE TO CAR POOL OUR TWO DAUGHTERS, ALONG WITH OTHER CHILDREN, HOME FROM SCHOOL. ONE OF THE CHILDREN GOT PHYSICALLY ILL (WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT HE SUFFERS FROM MIGRAINS, AND THE ODOR WAS TRIGGERING HIS ATTACTS), SO WE HAD TO PULL OUR DAUGHTERS OUT OF THE CAR POOL. IN ORDER TO LIMIT MY DAUGHTERS' EXPOSURE TO SULPHUR DIOXIDE, I AGREED TO USE THE TOYOTA AND LET MY WIFE USE MY DAKOTA TO TAKE THE GIRLS TO/FROM SCHOOL (IT DOESN'T STINK). AFTER DRIVING THE TOYOTA TO WORK FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR NOW, I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA BY MY PHYSICIAN (WHICH I'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE). MY ASTHMA MEDICATION COSTS ME $158 PER MONTH AND I HAVE RESEARCHED CAUSES OF ASTHMA, AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SULPHUR SMELL IS A POSSIBLE TRIGGER FOR IT. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, AND THE $37,000 TOYOTA SITS IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE NO ONE CAN STAND TO DRIVE IT. HELP!!!!! *AK

STRONG SULFUR SMELL WILL DRIVING THE CAR, THE SMELL IS STRONG AND TIMES CAN BE HARD TO BREATH. THE SMELL DOES DEFINITELY ORGINATE FROM MY 2003 FOURRUNNER.*AK

SULFER EXAUST FUMES ENTERING CABIN. OCCURS AT VARIOUS TIMES. SPOKE TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER; BOTH BLAME GAS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE FUMES ARE GETTING INTO THE CABIN AREA.*AK

MY NEW FORERUNNER HAS 60000 KM(LOTS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING) ON IT AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED BY SO MANY OTHERS. I USUALLY HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE DO THE OIL CHANGES AND THEREFORE DO NOT HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THE DETAILS. THIS INITIAL PROBLEM AROSE ON A WEEKEND. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T GET ME IN FOR A WEEK. THEY TOLD ME TO GET THE ENGINE FLUSHED IMMEDIATELY AT A JIFFY LUBE(OR THE LIKE). I DID SO AND THAT IS WHEN I STARTED SEEING SMOKE AND HAVING THE ENGINE EITHER JERK OR NOT RESPOND AT ALL. WHEN THE DEALER FINALLY HAD A LOOK AT IT HE TOLD ME I HAD NEGLECTED THE ENGINE AND HE WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER UNTIL I AGREED TO PAY (NO PRICE OFFERED AS OF YET, ALTHOUGH HE DID SAY THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AT LEAST A PISTON RING JOB, POSSIBLY AN ENGINE). HE ALSO ACCUSED ME OF PUTTING IN A NEW OIL FILTER TO HIDE A PROBLEM. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW USELESS AND PATHETIC THAT MADE ME FEEL. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A '99 FORERUNNER(PURCHASED NEW AS WELL) AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. I LIKED IT SO MUCH I CONVINCED BOTH MY SISTER AND PARENTS TO PURCHASE TOYOTA'S! I SUPPOSE MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE SEEN ANY ISSUES REGARDING THIS MODELS ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN NOTES DOCUMENTING THE 2002 FORERUNNER 2.2(4 CYLINDER), 3.0 AND 3.6 LITRE V6, BUT NOT THE 3.4 LITRE(WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE MINE TO BE). AT THIS POINT IN TIME TOYOTA HAS NOT CALLED BACK TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO AND FOR HOW MUCH, BUT HAVE SUGGESTED IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

DEAR AUTO SAFETY, I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN NOVEMBER 2002. THIS VEHICLE OMITS A SULFUR SMELL THAT IS EASILY DETECTABLE AND HORRIBLE TO HAVE TO SMELL WHEN DRIVEN. IT PLAIN STINKS. IT STINKS WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. IT STINKS WORSE WITH THE SIDE WINDOWS OR SUNROOF OPEN. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE 2003 4RUNNER TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND EMAILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SULFUR SMELL TO TOYOTA USA TO ADDRESS THE FACT EMMSSONS WERE ENTERING THE CABIN. I EVEN MET WITH A REGIONAL TECH FROM TOYOTA USA ON TWO OCCASIONS. EACH TIME TOYOTA FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE 2003 4RUNNER. THE SULFUR SMELL BEING OMITTED INTO THE THE CABIN IS AWEFUL TO BREATH FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ANYONE ELSE TRAVELING WITH ME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HEALTH HAZARD THE SULFUR SMELL POSES OR WHAT OTHER EMISSIONS MUST BE ENTERING THE CABIN. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND RECENTLY I LEARNED THE ISSUE OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABINS OF OTHER THE 2003 4RUNNER IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN DEFECT WITH ME, OR ADDRESS THE HEALTH/SAFETY ISSUE OF EMMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN WITH ME. THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO EFFECTIVELY CORRECT THE FACT THAT EMISSIONS ARE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA HAS BEEN FIRM IN THEIR POSITION THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY, THEY ARE COVERING UP A KNOWN DEFECT AND NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE THE HELP OF AUTO SAFETY IN BRINGING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA AND TO ANY OTHER AGENCY THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ORDER FOR TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILTY TO CORRECT THE KNOWN DEFECT OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THANK YOU AND BEST REGARDS, BILL VALENTINE.

MY PROBLEM DATES BACK TO 8-9 MONTHS AGO. I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER IN NOV.2002, BRAND NEW. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE THIS SULFER/AMMONIA SMELL, EVERY DAY, EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE OR GO UP A HILL. I HAVE BROUGHT IN THE CAR 4-5 TIMES TO VARIOUS DEALERS, EVERYONE SAID THERES NOTHING WRONG, FINALLY TOYOTA ESCONDIDO SMELLED THE SMELL AND INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE SITUATION BUT THERES NOTHING THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT HAD TO SPEND ANY $ YET, BUT THE SMELL IS ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU CRAZY. I AM SHOCKED THAT TOYOTA IS TAKING THAT APPROACH. I PAY WAY TOO MUCH FOR MY 4 RUNNER TO BE SO UNHAPPY!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2002. IT EMITS A HORRIBLE ROTTEN EGG/SULPHUR SMELL INTO THE CABIN, WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. HAS GIVEN MY PASSENGERS HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. TRIED THE RECOMMENDED GAS UPGRADES, NOTHING WORKS. THIS IS A DEFECT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE.*AK

I BOUGHT A 2003 4-RUUNER SPORT EDITION WITHTHE V-8 IN AUGUST, 2003. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE 4-RUNNER, THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. IT HAPPENS DURING ACCELERATION OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED MY 4-RUNNER AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I THEN HAD THE SERVICE WRITER RIDE WITH ME TO PROVE THE ROTTEN EGG SMELL. I AM AFRAID THE EXHAUST GASES GETTING INTO THE CAR COULD CREATE MEDICAL PROBLEMS. I ALSO WONDER IF MY 4-RUNNER WILL PASS EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS AND I WILL BE TOLD TO HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE I CAN GET A NEW STICKER TO DRIVE. ALL INDICATIONS IS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DECIDED TO PRETEND IT DOES NOT EXIST. *AK

THE SULPHER SMELL/CARBON MONOXIDE THAT COMES INTO THE CAB OF MY '03 4RUNNER V8, IS EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS MY 4TH TOYOTA IN THE PAST 6 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DISSAPOINTED WITH MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO 4 DEALERS TO ALL SAY TO ME THAT IT'S A GAS GRADE ISSUE. I'M TIRED OF TOYOTA NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND HELPING LOYAL CUSTOMERS OUT WITH ANNOYING ISSUES. AT THE VERY LEAST, OFFER AN ALTENATIVE SYSTEM.

CAR EMITS A SULFUR TYPE SMELL, WHETHER VENTALATION SYSTEM IS ON OR NOT, AND WHETHER WINDOWS ARE UP OR DOWN. SMELL IS NOXIOUS AND MAKES ME FEEL ILL. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10-15 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 5 MONTHS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

EXHAUST ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN WHETHER WINDOWS ARE CLOSED OR NOT. SUSTAINED, OVERPOWERING SULFUR ODOR WHEN THIS OCCURS. *PH

AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH MONTHS OF ILLNESS CAUSED BY A NOXIOUS SMELL, WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT OUR V8 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER EMITS OXIDES OF SULFUR (SO2, HS2, ETC.) ON THE MATTER OF SULFUR DIOXIDE ALONE, WE FOUND THAT ACCORDING TO THE EPA, SO2 CONTRIBUTES TO RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, AND AGGRAVATES EXISTING HEART AND LUNG DISEASES. PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY PEAK LEVELS OF SO2. AS I AM PREGNANT, HAVE ASTHMA, AND USE THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY 4-YEAR-OLD ON A DAILY BASIS, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED BY GRESHAM TOYOTA'S REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS HEALTH SITUATION. *LA

I AM EXPERIENCING A REPEATED CHEMICAL SULFUR ODOR IN MY VEHICLE CABIN ON EVEN MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE SMELL IS SIMPLY OVERWHELMING. THE WINDOWS ARE UP, THE SUNROOF IS CLOSED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS SET TO RECIRCULATE. I UNDERSTAND FROM THOUSANDS OF OTHER POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS A GASOLINE ISSUE, BUT I HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM MIAMI TO SEATTLE, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT THE EXHAUST SMELL IF IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP, WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, AND WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON RECIRCULATE, IT SCARES ME THAT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. ONLY THE SULFUR SMELL ON MODERATE ACCELERATION IS CLUE TO A LARGER PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG WITH THIS TOYOTA PRODUCT. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA BEGIN INVESTIGATING THIS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES INSIDE THEIR TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *LA

STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH OR WITHOUT THE WINDOWS BEING CLOSED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED IF THE FUMES COULD CAUSE ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT WAS BEING DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SULFUR SMELL THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A STRONG SULFUR ODOR IN MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THIS SMELL HAS NOT GONE AWAY, AND IN FACT HAS GOTTEN EVEN WORSE. I USE THE VEHICLE FOR TOWING PURPOSES ALSO AND THE SMELL IS UNBEARABLE WHEN TOWING SOMETHING. I HAVE RETUNRED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THERE IS NOTHING HAT CAN BE DONE. THE DEALER KEEPS TRYING TO ADVISE THAT IT THE FULE CHOICE THAT I MAKE, THIS CANNOT BE TRUE SINCE I TRAVEL WITHIN THREE STATES AND RARELY FULE AT THE SAME SIGHTS, AND UTILIZE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BRANDS ALSO, AND SINCE THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE NATIONWIDE HOW CAN THE DEALER INSIST THAT IT IS THE FUEL? I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I DO NOT WANT THIS NEW VEHICLE, ITS A GREAT VEHICLE TOHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN YOU CANNOT RIDE IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SMELL, HEADACHES, AND WHEN CLEINTS GET IN ...ITS DOWN RIGHT EMBARRASSSING !*AK

2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V6 LIMITED - LARGE AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. EXHAUST FUMES ARE EXPERIENCED REGARDLESS OF ADJUSTMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS, INCLUDING WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING AND RECIRCULATION ON. EXHAUST FUMES APPEAR TO BE FROM THE 4RUNNER. ALL OCCUPANTS BECOME NAUSEOUS AND EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT EYE IRRITATION. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF MY FAMILY, SHORT AND LONG TERM. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH TWO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND APPEAR TO BE AVOIDING THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. THEY TRY TO REDIRECT THE ISSUE TO THE SULFUR SMELL THAT THE VEHICLE EMITS. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SULFUR SMELL, BUT I HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. *LA

DEAR NHTSA, I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN NOVEMBER 2002. THIS VEHICLE OMITS A SULFUR SMELL THAT IS EASILY DETECTABLE AND HORRIBLE TO HAVE TO SMELL WHEN DRIVEN. IT PLAIN STINKS. IT STINKS WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. IT STINKS WORSE WITH THE SIDE WINDOWS OR SUNROOF OPEN. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE 2003 4RUNNER TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND EMAILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SULFUR SMELL TO TOYOTA USA TO ADDRESS THE FACT EMISSIONS WERE ENTERING THE CABIN. I EVEN MET WITH A REGIONAL TECH FROM TOYOTA USA ON TWO OCCASIONS. EACH TIME TOYOTA FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE 2003 4RUNNER. THE SULFUR SMELL BEING OMITTED INTO THE CABIN IS AWFUL TO BREATH FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ANYONE ELSE TRAVELING WITH ME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HEALTH HAZARD THE SULFUR SMELL POSES OR WHAT OTHER EMISSIONS MUST BE ENTERING THE CABIN. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND RECENTLY I LEARNED THE ISSUE OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABINS OF OTHER THE 2003 4RUNNER IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN DEFECT WITH ME, OR ADDRESS THE HEALTH/SAFETY ISSUE OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN WITH ME. THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO EFFECTIVELY CORRECT THE FACT THAT EMISSIONS ARE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA HAS BEEN FIRM IN THEIR POSITION THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY, THEY ARE COVERING UP A KNOWN DEFECT AND NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA. THANK YOU AND BEST REGARDS, BILL VALENTINE 206-297-6535. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN NOVEMBER 2002. THIS VEHICLE OMITS A SULFUR SMELL THAT IS EASILY DETECTABLE AND HORRIBLE TO HAVE TO SMELL WHEN DRIVEN. IT PLAIN STINKS. IT STINKS WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. IT STINKS WORSE WITH THE SIDE WINDOWS OR SUNROOF OPEN. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE 2003 4RUNNER TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND EMAILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SULFUR SMELL TO TOYOTA USA TO ADDRESS THE FACT EMISSIONS WERE ENTERING THE CABIN. I EVEN MET WITH A REGIONAL TECH FROM TOYOTA USA ON TWO OCCASIONS. EACH TIME TOYOTA FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE 2003 4RUNNER. THE SULFUR SMELL BEING OMITTED INTO THE CABIN IS AWFUL TO BREATH FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ANYONE ELSE TRAVELING WITH ME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HEALTH HAZARD THE SULFUR SMELL POSES OR WHAT OTHER EMISSIONS MUST BE ENTERING THE CABIN. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND RECENTLY I LEARNED THE ISSUE OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABINS OF OTHER THE 2003 4RUNNER IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN DEFECT WITH ME, OR ADDRESS THE HEALTH/SAFETY ISSUE OF EMISSIONS ENTERING THE CABIN WITH ME. THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO EFFECTIVELY CORRECT THE FACT THAT EMISSIONS ARE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA HAS BEEN FIRM IN THEIR POSITION THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING CORRECTLY, THEY ARE COVERING UP A KNOWN DEFECT AND NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA. THANK YOU AND BEST REGARDS, BILL VALENTINE. *JB

2003 4RUNNER SE V8: DURING ACCLERATION, I HAVE EXHAUST GASES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TOYOTA CONFIRMED THAT THE V8 IS MOSTLY AFFECTED DUE TO THE LARGER DISPLACEMENT ENGINE. ALSO, PER TOYOTA, THE EXHASUT GASES ARE ENTERING FROM A VENT LOCATED ON THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FUEL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO ARBITRATION AND WAS DENIED, EVEN THOUGHT TOYOTA FREELY ADMITS TO THE PROBLEM. BASED ON THE OUTCOME, I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO STATE THAT THIS IS A SAFE CONDITION AND WAS ALSO DENIED.

WE HAVE OWNED THE '03 4-RUNNER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCED A "ROTTEN EGG, SULFUR / AMMONIA TYPE SMELL THAT HAS YET TO SUBSIDE. WE HAVE TRIED USING EXXON, SUNOCO, AND SHELL 89-93 OCTANE AND THE SMELL STILL PERSISTS. IT IS MORE APPARENT WITH THE REAR WINDOW DOWN, BUT DEFINITELY EXISTS WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. THE SMELL IS CHOKING AND CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTY TO BREATH. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY MODERATE ACCELERATION. *PH

WE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN MARCH 2003 OF THIS YEAR FROM POWER TOYOTA CERRITOS. FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING TO THE CURRENT DATE, THE EXHAUST EMITS A SULFUR ODOR DURING REGULAR AS WELL AS HARD ACCELERATION. THE ODOR IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN. CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 5,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE CONFRONTED THE TUSTIN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE RECEIVE THE SAME RESPONSE EVERYTIME THAT IT IS NORMAL AND DUE TO THE GASOLINE OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO "BURN IN". SINCE CA HAS THE STRICTEST EMISSION LAWS, I'M SURE THE GAS IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES. I READ ON ALLDATA.COM THAT THERE IS A TSB (EG003-03) FOR A SULFUR SMELL, HOWEVER THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATA ON IT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON SITES LIKE EDMUNDS.COM, HTTP://WWW.4X4REVIEW.COM/DISCUSSIONS/TOYOTA/DEFAULT. ASP, AND OTHER COUNTLESS SITES. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO DENY THE PROBLEM EXIST. ALTHOUGH IT CURRENTLY IS NOT A SAFETY RISK, WHY WAIT TO FIND OUT? MY WIFE AND I ENJOY EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS NUISANCE IS BEGINNING TO OVERSHADOW OUR VIEW OF TOYOTA'S QUALITY. *JB